Oh..and btw, Goldilox...I still don't know the absolute answer to this question about how gastric bypass patients obtain normal blood sugar numbers. At first, I also thought that it was because of the weight loss. However, then I found out in my research that many patients experience "normal" bs numbers within weeks of the surgery PRIOR TO the bulk of their weightloss. I was perplexed at that point. So, I researched more and found out that when a person has gastric bypass surgery, the part of the intestines that absorbs fat is bypassed. AAHHAAA! That makes sense and is probably the cause of the "normal" bs values. Fat, especially animal fat, will contribute to insulin resistance, which is one of the points for Dr. Neal Barnard's book. Whenever I have more fat in my diet, my bs numbers always go up. When I keep it low fat, my numbers are so much lower. So, I would think that since these patients really don't absorb much or any fat for that matter, the result is that they are probably lowering their insulin resistance. Hope this makes sense and I would love to hear if anyone else had done research on this. :)

My first comment is about the book. It probably does work but Icouldn't follow it - I cheat and you can't if you follow his diet. I don't like all the foods I can have and all the foods I cannot have. I eat a lot of veggies but I also eat meat and dairy.

My second comment is about the gastric bypass surgery. Thats exactly right - you don't absorb all that you are eating anymore; therefore, low BSs.

if you look at nutrition labels, you will find those that have transfats - its a law that they have to be listed but don't be fooled by the ones that say a serving size doesn't have transfats when the ingredients say 'partially hydrogenated oils". It means anything more than 2 TBS and you've got transfats. That's how they fool you.

wow.. a gastric bypass....that is quite a drastic step to get your blood sugars down... I guess if you have to though, it sure has its benefits. I have never read the book so I cant comment on that.

Hi All!
I've been watching the threads about dibetes reversal/cure for a while now.
After 3 months of being diagnosed,My doctor very happilly told me that my A1c was that of a non-diabetic person.
I don't for a moment think I am cured and until I see concrete evidence otherwise will continue to regard diabetes as a "season ticket".
While I've not read Dr.Bernards book,from all accounts it has some useful information.Many books do..check into them.
One thing to keep in mind though is to use forums like this one as well as your medical team for feedback. A heathy dose of scepticism can quite literally save your life.
I was diagnosed over seven years ago with another chronic,life altering disease.(COPD)
As well,my daughter has MS,another chronic progressing disease.
One of the biggest (and perhaps saddest) lessons I have gotten from all this is that there are too many people who make a very good amount of money by preying on people desperate for any sort of hope.There are a lot of "snake oil cures" around, beware.If it sounds too good to be true it usually is.
When you come across things that make many promises,(especially if the things promised are ones that "doctors don't want you to know about")check it out.Try places like Quackwatch or Snopes.
That said,keep up hope and keep reading and researching.But while you are,try what has been proven over years of practice.
Sorry about the book!
Brian

it can be done a friend of mine got off her meds I am too new yet but working on it
minpin922

I've read many articles about reversing diabetes with diet & exercise. I've been diagnosed as a T2 for over 10 years. I had developed severe arthritus in both hips. That became severe, causing me to barely walk, let alone exercise. Which resulted in a large weight gain. Changed my eating habits and began losing weight. I had 2 hip replacements in 2007. After recovery, I began to slowly start to exercise. I've lost somewhere between 50-60 pounds over a 3 year period of time. Have about 30 pounds to go. My A1c's have been between 4.7 to 5.7 for the past few years. I am still considered diabetic. Exercise helps my numbers some. I don't know if the last 30 pounds coming off will make any difference. All I do know is if I eat pasta or any other high-carb food, my numbers spike. If you are not a diabetic, they claim you can eat carbs but you don't jump to 150 afterwards. A "normal" person would stay between 80-110. So, I wonder if anyone can ever consider themselves "cured" no matter how thin, how much exercise, or how well you monitor your food choices? Somehow I doubt it.

Mrsmers... I agree. It can never be cured, only controlled.

hi lynda!
when i was first diagnosed, i was really freaked out and was asking a million questions! thankfully, it was a very straightforward doctor who was delivering the diagnosis... when i asked him if there was a way that i would someday be able to come off of the meds he said "Well, yeah. But to do that, you'd have to change your diet and lose a lot of weight." When he said it, i kind of felt that he didn't think i could do it, so it's pushing me harder. i've also talked with a diabetes specialist and they are really helpful in trying to help you get to where you want to be. hope that helps in some way!

take care :)

oh, and i just wanted to add one thing. i find it really hard to eat the foods that are "best" for you.. i had good intentions, but i would often forget what to eat with what in order to meet the 2 carbs, 3 protein, etc. etc. i bought the book "Canada's Diabetes Meals for Good Health" by Karen Graham (who is a certified diabetes educator).. this book is awesome. it gives you complete meal plans and over 100 recipes and the best part is that the food in the guide is actually food you would WANT to eat. i dont know where you're located or your personal situation/goals, but a similar book might be helpful to changing eating habits?

hi lynda, try asking your dr. about chromium picolinate, from what I read it is suppose to be good for diabetes, but check first with your dr. I know of someone with type2 and did the weight watchers and was able to get off not only insulin but his pills, he was in the insulin zone. Another person I know had the gastric bypass but still has problems with eating, digesting and getting nutrients into her. So for that to be a cure all to diabetes is more trouble from what I hear. When I see my dr. next I want to ask her about the chromium. I had some nurse tell me going upstairs was good for my heart and going down them was good for my sugar levels. Don't know how true it is. Good luck.

goldilox - yes, bi-pass surgery DOES reverse diabetes because food is bypassing the intestines and therefore not digested. It has nothing to do with the weight loss. I know a couple of people who went through this and, yes, they no longer have diabetes. However, other than this surgery, diabetes is NOT reversable just controllable.

to walter -you must read the ingredients label. Wherever you see 'partially hydrogenated oil' that's trans fat

It really depends on how damaged your pancreas is. But lifestyle changes and suppliments definitely help. :) Nothing you do for yourself to better your health is in vain. If at the very least you can bring your readings down and lower your need for injections...thats great!

I enjoy reading all of your comments. I have learned a lot. Sometimes I wish I could hear from people who live alone and have to deal with this disease alone. I would love to hear from someone who has been diagnosed as long as I have (16 years) and who through poor blood sugars have numerous ailments. I am talking neuropathy (my feet are completely numb), gastrointestinal problems that I believe give me constant diarrhea, lower level kidney disease, had surgeries in both eyes one year apart to stop the bleeding which caused temporary blindness, I now have blood pressure issues and who knows what else that may not have been diagnosed yet. I want to know how do you manage from day-to-day. Especially, when you have a ten-month old granddaughter that you want to have her own memories of her grandmother. Is there anyone like me out there? I have Dr. Barnard's book but have not adhered to any of his theories. I have not done anything to try and prolong my life because my thought is it is too late so why bother. Thanks for listening.